Radio Attacked by Tory Decision Makers

5.31.17pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 9th Jun 2006

Bath & North East Somerset Council's latest move to increase communication with local residents has come under attack from Tory councillors for its use of radio, following their recent claims of Council 'jingles' wasting money.

Liberal Democrat Leader of Council, Cllr Paul Crossley who spear heads the communication programme has rallied to the need for cross media communication he said;

"Communication with local residents is vital to the work of the Council and local radio is a dynamic way of keeping people up to date on what matters to them in their local area."

"The last minute Conservative attack on these proposals is appalling and shows a complete lack of understanding of young people and their needs and the value of radio."

"This Council cannot disconnect itself from the residents of Bath & NE Somerset, we rely on their input to provide the best services possible and that can only happen when people are kept informed."

"Of course this mindless attack by the Conservatives is based on misleading information. Firstly this is not a pointless jingle, but a sound bed to accompany advertisements, secondly the supposed waste of Council Tax couldn't be further from the truth, the programme will see one sound piece being used for every council item instead of a new piece being recorded every time, so actually saving local tax payers money."

"We are very proud of our work with local radio stations such as GWR, Bath FM and BBC Radio Bristol. And I am proud of the work of Council staff, this is yet another example of the Tories trouncing officers in the interests of political point scoring, I on the other hand believe in working in partnership with staff for the benefit of all Bath & NE Somerset residents."